to Colonel G.’s friend, and Mr. Moore, the friend of Lord B.—­begging them to recollect that, while they consider Colonel G.’s honour, Lord B. must also maintain his own.  If the business can be settled amicably, Lord B. will do as much as can and ought to be done by a man of honour towards conciliation;—­if not, he must satisfy Colonel G. in the manner most conducive to his further wishes.”

[Footnote 44:  To his sister, Mrs. Leigh, one of the first presentation copies was sent, with the following inscription in it:—­

     “To Augusta, my dearest sister, and my best friend, who has ever
     loved me much better than I deserved, this volume is presented by
     her father’s son, and most affectionate brother,

“B.” ]

[Footnote 45: 

    “Little knew she, that seeming marble heart,
    Now mask’d in silence, or withheld by pride,
    Was not unskilful in the spoiler’s art,
    And spread its snares licentious far and wide.”
          CHILDE HAROLD, CANTO II.

We have here another instance of his propensity to self-misrepresentation.  However great might have been the irregularities of his college life, such phrases as the “art of the spoiler” and “spreading snares” were in nowise applicable to them.]

[Footnote 46:  “After speaking to him of the sale, and settling the new edition, I said, ’How can I possibly think of this rapid sale, and the profits likely to ensue, without recollecting—­’—­’What?’—­’Think what sum your work may produce.’—­’I shall be rejoiced, and wish it doubled and trebled; but do not talk to me of money.  I never will receive money for my writings.’”—­DALLAS’S Recollections.]

[Footnote 47:  In a letter to Pulteney, 12th May, 1735, Swift says, “I never got a farthing for any thing I writ, except once.”]

* * * * *

In the morning I received the letter, in its new form, from Mr. Leckie, with the annexed note.

     “My dear Sir,

“I found my friend very ill in bed; he has, however, managed to copy the enclosed, with the alterations proposed.  Perhaps you may wish to see me in the morning; I shall therefore be glad to see you any time till twelve o’clock.  If you rather wish me to call on you, tell me, and I shall obey your summons.  Yours, very truly,

     “G.T.  LECKIE.”

With such facilities towards pacification, it is almost needless to add that there was but little delay in settling the matter amicably.

While upon this subject, I shall avail myself of the opportunity which it affords of extracting an amusing account given by Lord Byron himself of some affairs of this description, in which he was, at different times, employed as mediator.